Poetry in music therapy can help process emotions and reconnect with oneself after a brain injury.
Creative expression can always offer new ways to communicate when speech or memory becomes challenging. One of our regular clients, C, has been spending a lot of time reading and writing poetry in our music therapy sessions, since it’s one of her passions.
“From the start, it became an outlet for her creative expression. When she comes across a poem that she knows, you can see the spark in her eyes. She comes alive, performing the words with hand gestures and settling into a rhythm that taps her into a flow state, allowing her to lose herself in the experience.”
– Jenny Bell, Music Therapist at Headway Thames Valley
How poetry in music therapy helps
Although C struggles with anxiety sometimes, poetry offers her moments of clarity and grounding. In these instances, Jenny says that
“revisiting familiar childhood poems brings her comfort, allowing her to open up and fully engage in the creative process. It also provides an opportunity to explore the memories and feelings that arise during her sessions.”
Writing her own poetry or songwriting is another way for C to navigate her feelings and memories.
Sometimes her work delves into the existential questions about the world and nature, while other times it captures the simple joys of observing her garden.
Watch C recite one of her favourite poems on our YouTube channel:
Creativity is an essential part of recovery
Through poetry in music therapy and other creative approaches, clients like C can build resilience as a great way to support mental health. According to Jenny:
“The process engages different parts of the brain, sparking connections and helps to build new neural pathways. It can enhance cognitive flexibility, boost problem-solving skills and improve emotional regulation.”
Whether through poetry, art or music, finding a creative outlet can add joy and clarity to everyday experiences.
C’s poetry recommendations
As an avid poetry lover, C has shared a few of her favourites:
- Edward Lear – (For fun nonsense poems) – Owl and The Pussy Cat, The Jumblies
- William Wordsworth – I wandered lonely as a cloud
- Anything by Shakespeare
- Pam Ayres (funny) Oh, I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth
Client stories
Read Lucy’s, Leigh’s and Hannah’s stories to learn about their journeys to recovery after a brain injury.
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